In a blistering call to action, Republican Representatives Brian Mast (FL-R), Bill Huizenga (MI-R), Michael Waltz (FL-R), and Paulina Luna (FL-R) have slammed the Biden administration and the Pentagon over what they’re calling a massive failure in protecting the voting rights of America’s overseas service members. Just days before the election, reports surface that our brave men and women in uniform stationed abroad are struggling to get access to the federal write-in absentee ballots they need to vote.
Rep. Mast pulled no punches: “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have mobilized federal manpower, resources, and tax dollars to block state-level election integrity measures, including in Georgia and Virginia, through lawsuits and smears,” he said on Friday. “They claim to care about democracy and the right to vote, yet they’ve failed to plan accordingly to facilitate the right to vote for every single one of our nation’s brave men and women in uniform. This is absolutely unacceptable.” Mast’s statement hit the nail on the head: why is this administration so focused on lawsuits and political theatrics while ignoring the simple right of our troops to vote?
Rep. Waltz echoed Mast’s outrage, saying, “Both Joe Biden & Kamala Harris have dismissed our warfighters serving in combat zones.” Waltz pointed out that the administration seems either unwilling or unable to make sure those who risk their lives for our freedoms have the tools to cast their ballot. It’s an issue that shouldn’t be political at all, yet the Biden administration’s priorities clearly don’t align with making it easy for these men and women to vote. “We need assurances these service members who are putting their lives on the line for our country have the information and tools they need to cast their ballot to vote.”
Rep. Huizenga joined the call, adding, “It is completely unacceptable that our men and women serving overseas are not receiving the proper information and resources necessary to cast their ballot. Sadly, this is the latest example of the Biden-Harris Administration failing to stand up for our servicemembers.”
Rep. Paulina Luna took it a step further, calling out Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: “Our military puts EVERYTHING on the line for us, but their right to vote is being ignored. Secretary of Defense Lloyd, why are federal write-in ballots not reaching our troops overseas? This is unacceptable. We demand answers and action NOW to ensure they can vote. No more excuses.”
Our military puts EVERYTHING on the line for us, but their right to vote is being ignored. @SecDef, why are federal write-in ballots not reaching our troops overseas? This is unacceptable. We demand answers and action NOW to ensure they can vote. No more excuses. pic.twitter.com/fL4bQ0MwI4
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) November 3, 2024
The reports are troubling, to say the least. Many overseas troops are without federal write-in absentee ballots, and in some cases, there isn’t even information available on how to register to vote or request a ballot. A letter sent by these lawmakers to Secretary Austin demands transparency on the Pentagon’s supposed “voter readiness” efforts. They want to know exactly how the Department of Defense is planning to ensure that every American service member can participate in this election.
The issue goes beyond mere inconvenience. With our nation’s future—and the commander-in-chief’s role in leading our military—on the line, it’s crucial that every service member has a voice. Unfortunately, as former Trump spokesperson Liz Harrington pointed out, states like Georgia and Pennsylvania are already experiencing unprecedented numbers of UOCAVA ballots, raising eyebrows over potential security risks and verification failures.
Harrington warned on social media, “Georgia has already emailed out more UOCAVA ballots than it did in ALL of 2020. 2020: 18,867 total UOCAVA ballots; 2024 so far: 22,127 UOCAVA ballots.” Pennsylvania is also seeing spikes, with over 35,000 UOCAVA ballots sent out. And what’s worse? These ballots can bypass typical ID verification.
Georgia has already emailed out more UOCAVA ballots than it did in ALL of 2020
2020: 18,867 total UOCAVA ballots
2024 so far: 22,127 UOCAVA ballots — this doesn’t even include those sent by mail
WATCH! Don’t let them cheat! pic.twitter.com/QpSrt1nMin
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) October 30, 2024
If there’s one thing the American people deserve, it’s election integrity—especially for those defending our freedoms abroad. The Biden administration has let them down, and Republicans aren’t going to stand for it. The bottom line? It’s time for the Pentagon to get its act together. Every single service member deserves a say in choosing the leader who could send them into harm’s way. Americans deserve better, and with leaders like Mast, Huizenga, Waltz, and Luna figh
